d, you know, start clean energy initiatives, reform immigration. but republicans have their on ideas. president obama is putting improving the economy front and center in his state of the union address. >> if you work hard and everybody gets a fair shot and shake, everybody plays by the same set of rules, and if we did that together, our nation will be stronger. >> reporter: the president is giving the annual speech before congress and the american people with unemployment hovering around 8%. drastic cuts in domestic programs and military spending are also getting ready to sock the economy if the president and congress can't reach a deal to stop them. >> first thing many of us will be listening for tonight is the president's plan for controlling spending and replacing the obama sequester. >> reporter: the president will make room in his speech to address north korea's nuclear test and plans to announce that 34,000 u.s. troops will be home from afghanistan by this time next year. president obama is also expected to speak about new gun laws. with man